Monday, April 7, 2014

Joe is in the house!

Okay he’s actually in the garden.

This is a wrap on one of my longest running cases of plant lust...I first fell for Agave ‘Joe Hoak’ in October of 2009 when we visited San Marcos Growers in Santa Barbara a, CA. Since SMG is a wholesale grower I felt fortunate to be allowed to wander their grounds and didn’t dare ask to buy this fabulous new introduction on display…

Who knows if they would have even sold it?

When we visited the Desert Southwest in 2012 I bought plants all across 4 states, the entire length of the trip, Joe was on my list but I didn’t find one. However I did discover this Agave ‘Quick Silver’ when I stopped at Elgin Nursery in Phoenix, the day after we’d packed up all the plants and shipped them home. Buying this one would have meant carrying it on the plane. You have no idea how many times I wish I would have done just that.

It wasn’t Joe, but pretty darn close. Agave ‘Quick Silver’ is a cross between A. desmettiana and A. medio-picta, and indeed was much more silver/white than Joe, who tends to the yellow side of things.

San Marcos has this to say about Joe: “The origin of this plant is confusing. We received our first stock plant from the late Dutch Vandervort, of California, who got his start from Jim Georgusis of Harahan, Louisiana. Jim told us it came from Joe Hoak of Hoak's Nursery in Miami, Florida. It is sometimes listed as Agave meridensis variegata 'Joe Hoak' or A. meridensis (perhaps referring to the city of Merida on the Yucatan Peninsula). The graceful curve to the leaf has led some to believe that this plant is a hybrid or sport of Agave desmetiana. As per Jim Georgusis, Joe Hoak himself thought this to be the case. Supporting this is the similarity to meridensis of one of A. desmetiana's synonyms, Agave miradorensis. Whatever its origins, it is one of the prettiest Agave we grow!”

I’ve been on the hunt for Joe ever since, in fact I was sure I’d bring one home from the San Francisco Garden Bloggers Fling last summer, but no. So how did Joe finally end up in my garden? From San Marcos Growers of course! Via my friend JJ de Sousa of Digs Inside & Out…thank you JJ! You’re an enabler and I love you for that.

Lest you think such a rare beast would live a cush life, treated with kid-gloves, no. It looks like Joe may have had a few run-ins with the nursery bullies.

He cleans up well.

Yep, Joe’s a looker.

All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

32 comments:

  1. Oh, he's very handsome! 'Quick Silver' is fantastic too, I can relate to your heart sinking when you saw that one and realized you couldn't conceivably bring it home on the plane.

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    1. I remember playing through all the possible scenarios but just couldn't make it work!

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  2. I am reading this posting with great interest. I have 2 of the so called named Joe Hoak with similar color markings to yours. They came from a friend here in Austin. They clearly pup as frequently as A desmettiana. I have them potted up where they get morning sun. Maybe a little more sun would give them a less flat look. Agaves are so difficult. So many cross breeds out there. My pot collection is getting ridiculous and someone is complaining about all this winter removal/protection that is required. Maybe we need to move to somewhere we can grow them in the ground.

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    1. There are so many crosses and crazy patented names! As for moving even my brother in Phoenix has lost a few A. desmettiana in the ground. They're wimps!

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  3. Yeah!! I put mine in the ground and have high hopes for speedy growth.

    I actually liked that 'Quick Silver' too. A lot!

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    1. I wonder if it's gotten out into the trade or if it's still an "Elgin exclusive?"

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  4. Joe is a mighty graceful guy. I can see how he danced into your heart and eventually into your garden.

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    1. And another agave that must over winter in the house is added to the collection.

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  5. Congratulations on a successful - if long - quest! Joe is indeed handsome (and now I'm going to have to be on the look-out for him). So, with that hunt completed, what's your next target?

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    1. Strange but I think I'm target-less for the moment. I was given a Manihot grahamii but so far it's just a stick, refusing to leaf out. I supposed that one is still on the "must find" list...

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  6. Love those arching leaves. Joe is an eye catcher. Congratulations!

    Jim NE Tabor.

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  7. Well done on finally getting a Joe! I've come across this agave several times before but only as small, young plants and the ones I've seen didn't look particularly nice. Wish I've known what bigger plants looked like before I saw those small ones, I want one now!

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    1. You'll run into one again soon, and now you'll know!

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  8. I love my 'Joe Hoak'! That cascading shape combined with the pearly variegation is breathtaking.

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    1. Are you able to grow Joe in the ground?

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    2. It's in a pot right now. I'm hoping to plant it out eventually!

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  9. Beautiful!!! and in looks great in that container.

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    1. Thanks Lisa! It reads black but is actually dark brown.

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  10. I need to get cracking on the gardening front. I sorta potted my Red Banana this morning. Oh boy, I have a lot to do. Can't wait to hear your ideas for Flamingo Park Gardens...

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    1. I can't wait to visit Flamingo Park Gardens! (is that going to be the name of your blog???)

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  11. It can be touchy in cooler weather, and in combination with heavy rain periods, it can start to rot. I've had this do fine for several winters, but mine suffered some leaf loss from the heavy rains we finally had in March, in combination with cooler than normal March temps, (still well above freezing). So keep it as warm and foliage as dry as possible, especially when temps are below 45°F would be my advice. As per my experience the past 3 years here in Berkeley.

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    1. Good to know, thank you. It's always a dance in the fall, how long to leave out the tender agaves. When will the rains come...

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  12. A beautiful plant, always great when you finally track down that one you've been after for ages.

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  13. Congratulations on the consummation of your lust! He's a looker!

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  14. Isn't it fun when a plant captures your attention and your heart. It's hard to explain to people who don't share this plant lust, but most of us who visit you here do understand. :) I'm so glad you have Joe now, and his cousin, Quick Silver!

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  15. A success story -he's magnificent. I'd like to grow some agaves in pots - both Joe and (actually, especially) 'Quick Silver' look really, really tempting.

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  16. I'm so happy that you got a "Joe." I know what it's like to hanker after him. But now I think I need a "Quick Silver."

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  17. Nice acquisition! Like Rock Rose, I have one small 'Joe Hoak' that probably came from the same friend as hers. It lives in a pot in dappled shade, and while it's not exactly thriving it seems to be getting by in our hot, humid climate.

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  18. Handsome boy! Though I must say, I also LOVE Quick Silver.

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